Building construction



Sept. 10, 1935. I A. c. OLSEN 2,013,763

' BUILDING CONSTRUCTION h Original Filed Dec. 9, 1929 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 S p 0, 935- v A. c. OLSEN 2,013,763

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 9, 1929 5' Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII z z; z z

Sept. 10, 1935. A. c. OLSEN BU ILDING CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 9, i929 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES- 2,013,763 nu mmo CONSTRUCTION Anders 0. Olsen, Garden City, N. Y., assignor to A. 0. Olsen, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application December 9, 1929, Serial No. 412,834 "Renewed October 27, 1934 19 Claims (Cl. 189-88) This invention relates to building constructions and more particularly to interior partition, wall, and ceiling structures adapted for temporary or permanent installation either during or subsequent to the erection of the building in which they are to be installed Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide such interior structures which may be speedily and economically erected; which comprise but a few simple, standardized parts; which present a pleasing appearance due to the concealment of the few fastening and supporting elements required; and which may be readily dismantled without damage thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel framing members comprising various forms and combinations of panel engaging strips which are fabricated of sheet metal and are adapted to be suspended from the overhead structure, attached to the walls or studding, or secured to the floors of the building, to form these partitions, walls, and ceiling structures.

Further objects of my invention include the provision of novel hanger and fastening members whereby the framing members are secured to the overhead, wall and floor structures of the interior of the building; the adaptation of certain of these framing members to form jambs and lintels for doors and other openings through the partition; and the provision of means for connecting the framing members to each other and to the panels which form the greater portion of these ceiling, wall and partition structures.

Other objects and purposes will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of my invention are illustrated by way of example.

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a building embodying the principles of my invention, showing. in elevation a partition provided with a door opening;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a portion of a room subdivided by means of partitions, illustrating various forms of posts or panel supporting strips as applied to the wall covering and partition structure;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section showing one form of panel supedges of two partition panels, and also showing one of the novel fastening elements for securing these posts or supporting strips to the floor;

Figure 4 shows one form of ceiling strip together with its associated hanger elements for 5 supporting the strip from the overhead structure of a room; I

Figure 5 shows a modified form of hanger member;

Figure 6 shows another form of ceiling strip in cross section;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figures 8, 8a, 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic end elevations of various compound strips;

Figure 12 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a plurality of intersecting partitions with a door opening through one of them;

Figure 13 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a corner arrangement showing a partition post 20 having four panel edge receiving grooves;

Figure 14 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a corner of a room illustrating the arrangement of the covering structure at this point;

Figure 15 is a. horizontal cross sectional view showing the wall covering structure arrangement at a re-entrant corner of the room;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a connecting element for two abutting panel engaging strips;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view showing the connection between two panel supporting strips in which the element illustrated in Figure 16 is utilized;

Figure 18 is ahorizontal cross sectional view taken on line I8l8 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of another form of connecting element for angularly abutting panel supporting strips; and

Figure 20 is a perspective view of another form of fastening element for securing the partition posts or panel supporting strips to the floor.

Although it will be readily understood that my novel interior construction may be applied to any type of building, the wall and ceiling structure being secured either directly to the studding and joists or being employed to cover a previously installed wall and ceiling; there is illustrated by way of example in Fig. 1, a small building of light construction provided with walls 10 and a g able roof supported by rafters I I, studding I2, andtiebeams I 3. The wall covering structure is represented generally by the numeral l4, the suspended ceiling structure by the numeral l5, and the partition structure by the numeral l6. In the embodiments shown, the ceiling structure I! is suspended from the tie-beams l3 and rafters II by means of the hanger units I1, and the partition I6 is shown asbeing provided with the door l8.

In Fig. 2, there is shown a fragmentary view of a room having walls l0, floor l9, and wall cov ering structure l4, and being subdivided by means of the partition l6. 4

The wall, ceiling and partition structures comprised in my invention are of the built-up panel type wherein the panels 20, constructed of plaster board, wall board, wood or other suitable material are spaced and supported by the various forms of hollow sheet metal posts or strips to be described.

These strips or posts are of different conformations suitable for various combinations and arrangements of partition or wall structures, and comprise elements of definite standard shapes, used singly in some cases and in others two or more of these elements being combined to form a compound strip. These standardized elements, for the purposes of the present invention, are six in number and are designated A, B, C, D, E and F. Element A is shown as used alone in Figs. 2 and 4 and in combination in Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12-, 13, 17 and 18. Element B may be found in combination with other elements in Figs. 2, 3, 6, '7, 9, 12, 13, 17 and 18, and element C is found only in combination in Figs. 2, 8, ll, 12 and 13. Element D is illustrated in Fig. 2 as used alone and in Figs. 9, l and 11 in "combination. The elements E and F for use in the corners of rooms are found in Figs. 14 and 15 respectively.

As may be seen from the drawings, these elements are in the form of elongated sheet metal strips each having a hollow box-like body portion and being provided with a plurality of projecting longitudinal flanges which form interlocking means for connection with other elements, and provide grooves for the reception of panel edges.

Element A is of the same construction as the panel supporting strip illustrated and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 412,833, filed December 9, 1929, and comprises the hollow rectangular body portion 2|, one of the longer walls 22 of which is interrupted by the slot 23 having walls 24 which extend at right angles with walls 22 and flare outwardly to form flanges 25. Element B is of the same construction as element A with the exception of the omission of flanges 25.

Element '0, as most clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, is generally rectangular in form with one of its longer sides provided with an opening 21 and the other provided with a groove or recess 28. Element D is similar to element A except that its longer unbroken side is provided with the groove or recess 30 which divides the body portion into two nearly square portions 3 I.

Corner element E has a square body portion 32 which has an open corner 33, the sides of the body portion at this point being extended divergently to form the right angular walls 34 which are provided with the outer flanges 35, these outer flanges 35 forming with the body portion 32 grooves for the reception of panels 20. The reentrant corner element F is provided with the V-shaped body portion 31, the walls '38 and the flaring flanges 39. Grooves for the reception of the edges of the panels 20 are formed. between the inner wall of the arms of the V-shaped body portion and the flanges 39. The flanges 33 are preferably extended beyond the body portions 31 and are provided with perforations through which the fastening elements 40 may be passed for attachment to the wall ID. If desired, the flanges 35 of the corner element E shown in Fig. 14 may be similarly extended and provided with similar fastening elements 40, although ordinarily these fastening elements 40 will be unnecessary since the element E will normally be self-supporting. Elements B and C are not generally adapted to be used alone but in combination with other elements, and elements A, D, E and F are adapted to be used alone only in ceiling and wall structures since one side of each of these elements is provided with an opening which cannot well be exposed to view. In Fig. 4, the strip A is shown used in a ceiling construction, the ceiling panels being adapted to have their edges received in the grooves formed between the flanges and the upper wall 22 of the body portion. This ceiling structure is adapted to be supported from the rafters or other overhead structures of the room by means of a plurality of hanger elements 25 42 which are provided with heads 43 connected to the body portion by means of the neck 44. When the end of this hanger member 42 is inserted in the strip 2 I, the head 43 occupies the hollow body portion 2| and the ledges 45 underlie and support the Walls 22. The neck portion 44 is adapted to flt snugly within the slot 23 of the strip. The upper ends of these hanger units are provided with perforations 46 to facilitate their attachment to the overhead suspending structure. If desired, the upper portion of the hanger 42 may" be ofiset from the lower portion thereof by means of an inclined mid portion 41. In cases where the joists or other supporting structure such as the tie-beams |3 in Fig. 1 run in the same di- 4 rection as the panel supporting strip, the hanger element may be given a twist of 90 as shown at IT.

The hanger unit shown in Fig. 5 is adapted for use in securing wall strips and ceiling strips which are to be disposed in close proximity to the supporting structure. The body portion 50 is adapted to be nailed or otherwise secured to the under surfaces of the rafters or overhead structure, in the case of the ceiling strips, or to 50 the outer faces of the studding or other supporting structure for the wall strips. The body portion 50 is disposed in such a direction as to be at right angles to the length of the supporting strip to be held thereby. In this embodiment the neck portion 5| is bent outwardly from the body portion 50 so as to make a right angle therewith. It is then twisted to an angle of 90 so that the plane of the head 52 intersects the body portion 50 perpendicularly at the median line thereof.

A convenient form of strip for use in either partition or ceiling structures is shown in Figs. 3,

6 and '7. This strip is formed by combining elements A and B. The outwardly flaring flanges 25 of element A are inserted in the body portion 2| of element B with the wall portions 24 of element A disposed between the wall portions 24 of element B. These elements are then slid along each other until their ends register. Fig. 3 shows this compound strip used as a partition post having two oppositely facing grooves to receive th panel edges 20.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the use of this com pound strip in a ceiling structure. Ceiling panels 26 are received in the oppositely facing grooves of the panel supporting strip as in case of the partitions and the strips are suspended from the overhead structure by means of the hanger unit 42. The upper surface of the strip is pierced at intervals by slots 58 which extend longitudinally of the strip and are of a length corresponding to the width of the head 43 of the hanger unit. The width of these slots 56 corresponds to the width of the neck 44 of the hanger unit. In assembling this structure the heads of the hanger units 62 are inserted in the slots 56 and are rotated within the body portion of the strip through a quarter turn so that the shoulders 45 of the head portion 46 underlie the upper walls of the strip and so form a rigid and sturdy supporting means for the ceiling structure.

A compound partition post for receiving and supporting the meeting edges of three panels 20 is shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. This post is built up of elements A, B and C; elements A and B being assembled as in the case of strips shown in Figs. 3 and 6 and having the open inwardly directed flanges of element D embracing one of the body portions of elements A or B. There is thus formed a post having two oppositely facing grooves for receiving a pair of aligned panels and a third groove for receiving the edge of a panel which is perpendicular to the plane of the first two. This arrangement is also shown at 60 in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 12, there are shown two of the posts just described one on either side of the door opening, the body portion of element A forming jambs for the door 18. Although the doorway construction is shown in this figure in connection with the compound posts composed of elements A, B and C, it is obvious that the rectangular body portions 2| of elements A or B may be used as door jambs in any combinations in which they may occur. Filler blocks 6| which may be rectangular or channel shaped in cross section are inserted in these hollow body portions to increase the rigidity of the post and also to receive the nails, screws, bolts or other fastening elements 62 for attaching the hinges 63 upon which the door 18 is adapted to swing. The filler blocks 6! may be constructed of wood or metal; In the former case the fastening means 62 are preferably screws, while in the case of a metal construction, bolts are more satisfactory. A door stop 64 in the form of a vertical strip of wood or metal is secured to the opposite jamb. A panel supporting strip 65 of any desired construction forms a lintel for the doorway as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 13 there is illustrated a built-up post adapted to receive the meeting edges of four intersecting partitions. This post, as will be readily seen, is formed by the addition of another element C to the strip shown in Fig. 12.

Figs. 8, 8a, 9, 10 and 11 illustrate diagrammatically various other possible combinations of elements A, B, C and D. Fig. 8 shows an element A interlocked with an element C so as to form a built-up post for the accommodation of three panel edges. Fig. 8a shows the same combination of elements but in contracted position providing only one panel edge receiving groove. This strip is adapted to form a lintel for a door opening. a door jamb or other end post for a partition. Fig. 9 shows the method of interlocking elements B and D; Fig. 10 shows an element A and an element D combined to form a compound strip; and Fig. 11 illustrates a way by which elements C and D may be combined to form a four groove strip.

In order to join two panel supporting strips which abut at right angles, there is provided the angular connecting element designated by' the this element are cut away or notched as at 12 and the panel strip is bent as at 13 at an angle to correspond with the desired meeting angle of the abutting panel supporting strips. The two arms 14, thus formed are inserted in the hol- 15 low body portions 2| of the strips as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. This type of connection may be employed at the junction of a ceiling strip and a wall or partition strip as at 11 in Fig. 1 or at the junction of a door lintel and jamb as at 16 in the same figure. It will be noted that this connection may be used either where the end of one strip meets the end of the other at an angle or where the end of one strip abuts the other strip intermediate its end. In the latter instance an opening 19 is provided in the wall of the second strip for the introduction of one of the arms 14 or 15 as in Fig. 17.

An alternative connecting element for employment in the same general type of joints is shown in Fig. 19. In this case, the connecting element is formed of two parts 88 which are U-shaped, having bases 8| and arms 82. This element is particularly adapted to connect the ends of two strips with their panel edge receiving grooves occupying the plane common to the two abutting strips. The arms 82 enter the hollow body portion 2| of the strip and embrace the interlocking middle walls and flanges as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13.

In order to provide a firm base for the partition post, so that the partitions cannot shift or slide upon the floor surface, there are employed the members 85 and 95 illustrated respectively in Figs. 3 and 20.

Base element 85 is formed from the same metal channel stock as the angular connecting element 10 but is bent twice to form a U-shaped member having a horizontal portion 86 and arms 81 which are adapted to enter the body portion 2| of the post element. The flanges 88 are notched or split as at 89 and those portions of the flangeswhich are attached to the horizontal plate 86 are further notched and shaped to form a plurality of points or spurs 90 which are adapted to provide an anti-friction contact with the floor of the room in which the partition is installed. The base element 85 is shown partly withdrawn from the lower end of the partition post in Fig. 3, for purposes of illustration.

Base element 95, (Fig. 20) comprises the horizontal plate 95 from the center of which the flanges 91 are struck up. These flanges 91 are bifurcated as at 98 andare adapted to be slightly compressed laterally when inserted in the end of a partition post, in insure a rigid fit. Flanges 91 embrace the inner interlocking walls and flanges of the partition post in a manner similar to the arms 82 of the connecting element 80 as in Fig. 13. To provide an anti-friction contact with 9 the floor the spurs 99 are struck downwardly from the plate 96.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a novel and practical complete lining structure for the walls and ceiling of a room including means for subdividing the room into smaller areas as desired, This interior construction may be easily erected and taken down; provides a fire-proof structure; and marks an improvement over the usual wooden partition and wall structures in many respects. It is to be understood that many modifications and changes may be made in the embodiments shown and described herein without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a building construction, in combination, a supporting structure, a plurality of headed hanger units projecting from said supporting structure and each provided with a narrowed portion adjacent the head thereof, a wall and ceiling structure of the built-up panel type comprising a plurality of panels and panel supporting strips, the walls of said strips being provided with continuous slots of a width corresponding to the narrowed portion of said hangers and greater than the thickness of said hangers, the heads of saids hangers being adapted to be inserted in said slots at any point lengthwise thereof and rotated to their operative supporting position.

2. A hanger unit for wall or ceiling structures comprising a flat strip of metal provided with a body portion, a narrow neck portion and a head portion, said neck portion being bent through an angle of from said body portion and also twisted about its axis through an angle of 90.

3. As an article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip for use in building constructions, comprising two hollow box-like body portions, substantially rectangular in cross section with one corner of each rectangle open, adjacent edges of a wall of each body portion at said open corner being connected by a narrow web, the edges of the remaining walls at said open corners being extended outwardly at angles of 90 to said last named walls and thence extending parallel to said last named walls respectively.

4. As an article of manufacture, an elongated hollow box-like sheet metal strip H-shaped in cross section for use in building constructions, which comprises two interlocking members each having a hollow body portion rectangular in cross section the adjacent walls of which are slotted, and a pair of mutually inwardly directed walls, the pair of walls of one of said members being overlapped and enclosed by those of the other, and flared flanges on said enclosed pair of walls which extend into the interior of the body portion of said other member.

5. Ina building construction, a post having a hollow end, and means for securing said post to a floor, ceiling, wall or other surface, comprising a small substantially rectangular clip having flanges adapted for insertion into the hollow end of said post and anti-friction members comprising integrally formed spurs projecting from said clip for contact with said surface.

6. In a partition structure, a post having a hollow body portion substantially H-shaped in cross section, and a securing element for said post comprising a channel strip bent into the shape of a U, the arms thereof being adapted to enter the interior of the body portion of said post corresponding to the upright arms of the H, the flanges of the securing element at the bottom of the U, being shaped to-adapt them to be forced into the floor, ceiling, wall or other surface which said partition is adapted to abut.

7. In a partition structure of the built-up panel type, an elongated, vertical, hollow, sheet metal, panel supporting post, which comprises a hollow member which is H-shaped in cross section and another hollow member which is U-shaped in 5 cross section and has a portion of its wall cut away to receive the part of the first named member corresponding to the cross bar of the H, one of the legs of the H-shaped member being disposed within the portion of the second member 10 corresponding to the base of the U, the grooves of the H-shaped and U-shaped members adapted to receive the edges of panels of intersecting partitions.

8. In a partition structure of the built-up panel type, an elongated, vertical, hollow, sheet metal, panel supporting post, which comprises a hollow member which is H-shaped in cross section and another hollow member which is U-shaped in cross section and has a portion of its wall cut 20 away to receive the part of the first named member corresponding to the cross bar of the H, one of the legs of the H-shaped member being disposed within the portion of the second member corresponding to the base of the U, the grooves 25 of the H-shaped and U-shaped members adapted to receive the edges of panels of intersecting partitions and a filler block disposed within the other leg of the H-shaped member and means for securing the hinges of a door to said leg and filler block.

9. The method of applying a suspended ceiling structure which includes the steps of successively inserting the widened lower ends of flat hanger members edgewise into the slotted wall of a box-like panel supporting strip rotating said members to cross-wise positions wherein the shoulders formed by the widened portions of said members underlie and support the wall of said strip adjacent the margins of the slot therein,

and securing the upper ends of said members to the overhead supporting structure of the room.

10. As an article of manufacture, an elongated hollow box-like sheet metal strip for use in building constructions, which is H-shaped in crosssection and which comprises one member hav- 45 mg a hollow body portion rectangular in crosssection, one wall of which is slotted and provided with outwardly extending parallel flanges adjacent the margins of the slot, a second member of similar hollow rectangular body construction and also having a slot in one of its walls, a pair of outwardly extending parallel flanges, and outwardly flared wings formed at the outer edges of the flanges of one of said members, the winged flanges of said last named member being enclosed by the flanges of the other member, and said wings extending into the body portion of said first named member whereby the members are interlocked to form said H-shaped strip.

11. As an article of manufacture, an elongated hollow box-like sheet metal strip for use in building constructions, which is H-shaped in cross section and which comprises one member having a hollow body portion rectangular in cross section, one wall of which is slotted and provided with outwardly extending parallel flanges adjacent the margins of the slot, a second member of similar hollow rectangular body construction and also having a slot in one of its walls, a pair of outwardly extending parallel flanges, and outwardly flared wings formed at the outer edges of the flanges. of one of said members, the winged flanges of said last named member being enclosed by the flanges of the other member, and

said wings extending into the body portion of said first named member whereby the members are interlocked to form said H-shapedstrip, said enclosing flanges being of substantially the same width as said enclosed flanges, whereby relative transverse movement between said members is prevented while relative longitudinal sliding movement, as for assembling or disassembling said strip, is permitted.

12. A panel assembly adapted for use in a wall, partition, sheathing or similar building construction, comprising, in combination, a panel supporting strip of elongated hollow box-like sheet metal construction, and H-shaped in cross section, which comprises two interlocking members each having a hollow body portion, the adjacent walls of which are slotted, and a pair of mutually inwardly directed flanges, the pair of flanges of one of said members being overlapped and closed by those of the other and flared wings on said enclosed pair of flanges which extend into the interior of the body portion of said other member, panels having their adjacent edges received within the opposed recesses of said H-shaped strip between said body portions, the outer walls of said body portions being provided with rectangular slots, and headed securing members adapted to interlock with said slots and to attach said panel assembly to a suitable supporting struc ture.

13. In a building construction, a post having a hollow end, and means for securing said post to a fioor, ceiling, wall or other surface, comprising a small sheet metal clip having flanges adapted for insertion into the hollow end of said post and anti-friction members comprising integrally formed spurs projecting from said clip for contact with said surface.

14. In a partition structure, a post having a hollow body portion substantially H-shaped in cross section, and a securing element for said post comprising a plate-like clip member, flanges on said member extending perpendicularly to the plane thereof and adapted to project respectively into the interior of the body portions of said post corresponding to the upright arms of the H, and friction members comprising integrally formed spurs projecting from said plate-like clip member and adapted to be forced into the fioor, wall, ceiling or other surface which said partition may abut.

15. A panel edge retaining and supporting strip for use in the erection of partitions, and wall and ceiling coverings, comprising two separately formed, elongated members, having mutually facing parallel walls defining a slot for the reception, retention, and support of a panel edge, the first of said members having an elongated recess, connecting means formed integrally with said members and adapted to maintain said m mbers against relative lateral bodily movement but permitting relative longitudinal movement, said means comprising a web integral with the second of said members and extending toward the first member, a flange on the outer edge of said web located within the recess in said first member and engaging a wall thereof to lock said members against lateral separation, an approximately co-extensive web formed integrally with said first member, projecting therefrom, and extending toward and into abutmentwith an exterior surface of said second member to serve as a spacing element to maintain said members in spaced relationship. 7

16. A panel edge retaining and supporting strip for use in the erection of partitions, and

wall and ceiling coverings, comprising two sepa-- rately formed, elongated members, having mutually facing parallel walls defining a slot for the reception, retention, and support of a panel edge, the first of said members being of a hollow 5 box-like construction and having an elongated slot formed in its said wall, connecting means formed integrally with said members and adapted to maintain said members against relative lateral bodily movement but permitting relative longi- 10 tudinal movement, said means comprising a web integral with the second of said members and extending into the slot formed in said first member, a flange on the outer edge of said web located within the hollow interior of said first mem- 15 ber, engaging the rear face of the near wall of said member and spaced from the remote wall thcreof, said flange serving to lock said members against lateral separation, an approximately co-extensive web formed integrally with said 20 first member, projecting therefrom and having its free outer edge abutting the exterior surface of said second member to serve as a spacing element to maintain members in spaced relationship. 25

17. A panel edge retaining and supporting strip for use in the erection of partitions, and wall and ceiling coverings, comprising two separately formed, elongated members, parallel walls of which mutually define a slot for the reception, retention, and support of a panel edge, connecting msans formed integrally with said members and adapted to maintain said members against relative lateral bodily movement but permitting relative longitudinal movement there- 35 of, said connecting means comprising a pair of spaced parallel tension resisting webs extending from one of said members and having means interlocking with the other member so as to prevent separation of said members lat- 40 erally, similar spaced parallel approximately coextensive, compression resisting webs extending from the other of said members and having their outer free edges abutting said first named member so as to prevent lateral bodily movement of 45 said members toward each other.

18. A panel edge retaining and supporting strip for use in the erection of partitions, and wall and ceiling coverings, comprising two separately formed, elongated members, having mutually 50 facing parallel walls defining a slot for the reception, retention, and support of a panel edge, the first of said members having an elongated recess formed in its said wall, connecting means formed integrally with said members and adapt- 55 ed to maintain said members against relative lateral bodily movement but permitting relative longitudinal movement, said means comprising a pair of spaced webs integral with the second of said members and extending toward the first 60 member, outwardly flaring flanges on the outer edges of said webs located within the recess in said first member and engaging the walls thereof to lock said members against lateral separation, a pair of spaced parallel webs formed 65 integrally with said first member and extending toward and into abutment with said second member to serve as spacing means to maintain said members in spaced relationship.

19. A panel edge retaining and supporting 70 strip for use in the erection of partitions, and wall and ceiling coverings, comprising two separately formed, hollow, elongated box-like, sheet metal members, having mutually facing parallel walls defining, between them a space for the reception, 75

retention, and support oi a panel edge, the first of said members having an elongated slot formed in its said wall, connecting means formed integrally with said members and adapted to maintain said members against relative lateral bodily movement but permitting relative longitudinal movement, said means comprising a pair of spaced parallel webs integral with the second of said members and extending toward the first of said members and into said slot, outwardly flaring flanges formed in the outer edges of said webs located within the interior of said flrstnamed member and engaging a wall thereoi'to lock said members against lateral separation. a pair of spaced parallel webs formed integral with said first member and extending toward said second member and embracing said first named webs, and having their outer free edges abutting the outer surface of said second member to serve as a spacing means to maintain said members in spaced relationship.

ANDERS C. OLSEN. 

